In the Movement Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In The Movement Podcast

Episode 12

Serve Don’t Judge and Other Leadership Perspectives with Andrew Downin

Welcome to In The Movement Podcast with your show hosts Christopher Kemm and Austin De Bey, to discuss what's happening in the credit union movement. Each episode will feature leaders talking about history and current affairs and how we can utilize our expertise to educate, communicate, and mobilize to better serve our movement.

Meet Andrew Downin

Andrew Downin has been with Vantage West since 2018 and has held leadership positions at the country’s most notable credit unions for two decades. In addition, Andrew led research and innovation at Filene Research Institute, the think tank for the U.S. credit union movement. He is a frequent speaker and contributor to industry publications, and his insights have appeared in publications including The New York Times, Credit Union Magazine, and Credit Union Times. Andrew earned his undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Arizona and his MBA from Pepperdine University. On advisory boards for CUNA Mutual Group and Filene Research Institute, Andrew enjoys volunteering with Future Business Leaders of America. 

Bringing the Mission to Life

Seeing the possibilities within a marketing role, Andrew was able to really define his philosophy as a leader in our movement, by solidifying his value and importance of who we are here to serve and how the mission of credit unions brings tools consumers need to get ahead in life in a tangible way for his members.. 

Listen in to find out how Andrew uses his different leadership perspectives and taking the latest data on credit unions to grow his credit union and how they reached out and incorporated local businesses in a branding and awareness campaign. Learn How consumers view their credit union and how credit unions serve their communities.

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Show Highlights

[03:25] How Andrew started out in his career in the credit union.

[09:35] Working for a credit union through Disney gave him bigger and better opportunities.

[15:22] Taking the credit union service to a new level.

[20:56] Credit union research report that Andrew uses to build his credit union.

[31:18] Usage of the term credit union and how that applies to consumer perception.

[38:58] How Andrew is using other credit union products for his clients.

Episode Links and Resources

Check out Vantage West on the web

Not a Bank Ad - Behind the scene view

Andrew on Linkedin

Subscribe to our show on Podbean

Connect with us on social media

Tweet with us on Twitter 

Austin on Linkedin

Chris on Linkedin

Contact Chris via email ckemm@mwcua.com

In The Movement Podcast

Episode 11

Juntos Avanzamos  "Together We Advance"  with Pablo DeFilippi

Welcome to In The Movement Podcast with your show hosts Christopher Kemm and Austin De Bey, to discuss what's happening in the credit union movement. Each episode will feature leaders talking about history and current affairs and how we can utilize our expertise to educate, communicate, and mobilize to better serve our movement.

Meet Pablo DeFillipi

Pablo is a passionate financial executive who serves as the Senior Vice President for networking and membership engagement at Inclusive. Originally from Chile, he started his credit union career in the United States based on a recommendation from a social studies teacher. Starting with Municipal Credit Union in New York City, Pablo then joined the Lower Eastside People's Federal Credit Union - a nationally recognized credit union serving underserved populations in New York City. He became the CEO of Lower Eastside in 2004 and went on to work with the World Council Credit Union, and is currently serving as an executive at Inclusive.

Giving Access to Basic Financial Services to Underserved Populations

Even though New York City is a major global financial hub, many of its residents don't have access to essential financial services. "I couldn't understand how that worked." He quickly realized that big corporations weren't willing to close the financial gaps he found in the banking industry. 

Listen in to find out how credit unions can make financial tools available to minorities, how Pablo and his company are filling the financial gap for minorities, and three of the best lessons Pablo has learned during his career in finance.

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Show Notes:

[04:34] Pablo’s journey from his early days in banking to his current executive banking position. 

[07:56] When Pablo discovered that the underserved population in NYC didn’t have basic financial services.

[11:43] Immigrants want to build their lives, communities, and future in the US.

[20:53] Three biggest takeaways Pablo has learned through his career journey.

[36:02] The financial framework that can break through ethnic and economic barriers.

Episode Links and Resources

Pablo - inclusiv 

Follow Inclusiv on Twitter

Pablo on Linkedin

Subscribe to our show on Podbean

Connect with us on social media

Tweet with us on Twitter 

Austin on Linkedin

Chris on Linkedin

Contact Chris via email ckemm@mwcua.com

In The Movement Podcast

Episode 3

The Power of Data

Welcome to In The Movement Podcast with your show hosts Christopher Kemm and Austin De Bey discuss all things happening in the credit union movement. Each episode will feature leaders talking about history and current affairs and how we can utilize our expertise to educate, communicate, and mobilize to better serve our movement.

Today, we are chatting with our insider host, Nicole Brusewitz, our VP of education at Mountain West Credit Union Association. She will be talking with Ann Legg about big data and big data strategy. We hear about data transformation but do we understand how to apply this concept in practice?

Guest Bio

Our guest Anne Legg recently published her book Big Data Big Climb, the only industry playbook on data transformation. Additionally, she is the founder and principal of Thrive Strategic Services, working with credit unions to create revolutionary member relationships via organizational education, member-centric data strategies, and data maturity. Anne is a recognized credit business strategist, speaker, author, educator, has delivered her workshop to over 600 credit union leaders, and received multiple marketing awards.

Anne’s Passion for Data

She worked for an MCIS service provider with 100% of the audience being credit unions for the past 17 years. Anne enjoyed working with member-centric, data-driven businesses. While working, she went back to school and received her MBA. Her thesis became a white paper, then gained popularity on the international scene. The ICS selected her thesis for presentation and worked with big companies to use data to improve lives.

The Power of Data

“The gorgeousness of data is that it comes in three beautiful buckets: descriptive data, prediction, and prescribing a solution before you get there.” These critical and fun elements of data are what drives Anne to deep dive into her work daily.

Listen in to find out why credit union data is better than Amazon data, understand the three buckets of data, and how to use this data to predict where your member is going to next. Learn how Anne connects the dots of data strategy, how credit unions can leverage connections, and why being a data nerd qualifies you to review data to even the playing field.

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Show Notes:

[04:15] How Anne found her passion for credit unions. 

[07:21] The three buckets that data can be organized. 

[09:31] Connection between data strategy and how the credit unions can leverage these connections. 

[13:05] How credit unions can approach data without overwhelm. 

[18:30] An example of member friction within credit unions. 

[24:22] Why Anne’s book can be translated to the medical industry. 

[26:27] What Anne can bring from her first marathon experience into business. 

[30:40] Mountain West is launching the first data institute in 2021.

Episode Links and Resources

Subscribe to our show on Podbean

Connect with us on social media

Tweet with us on Twitter

Contact Chris via email ckemm@mwcua.com

Visit Mountain West Credit Union on the web

Grab a copy of Anne’s Book Big Data Big Climb

Connect with Anne Legg on LInkedIn

In the Movement Podcast

Episode 2

The Movement Podcast - Scott Earl, President and CEO of the Mountain West Credit Union Association (MWCUA)

Welcome to In The Movement Podcast with your show hosts Christopher Kemm and Austin De Bey discuss all things happening in the credit union movement. Each episode will feature leaders talking about history and current affairs and how we can utilize our expertise to educate, communicate, and mobilize to better serve our movement.

Today, we talk with Scott Earl, the president and CEO of the Mountain West Credit Association. There are many times in Scott’s 39-year career where he’s played a part in moving forward credit unions. From the Arizona league or the time he spent in the credit union merger with the mountain west states, he has shown a passion for his work and employees. He is a leader that you don’t want to let down because he leads by example. It’s leaders like Scott that have demonstrated the true ‘people leading people’ in our movement.

Scott started his career when he graduated from college, interviewed with a credit union league president, and was hired as the director of marketing and relations. “I was on the ground floor of credit unions becoming better marketers.”

He worked for Dave Adams, who told Scott that if he wanted his job, he would need to find Dave a better job. Scott took on the challenge, and in 1991, Scott found that the Washington Credit Union president was leaving. Dave took the job, and Scott became the successor for Dave as president.

Listen in to find out why Scott chose Children’s Hospital for his philanthropic work, history with the credit union movement, and what sparked the idea that Scott could change people’s lives. Learn Scott’s perspective on how credit unions work differently from state to state, why credit unions need the association to be successful, and what Scott predicts about credit unions' future.

Bio

Scott Earl is the president and CEO of the Mountain West Credit Union Association (MWCUA), representing 117 credit unions in Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming. 

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Show Notes:

[04:04] Scott’s start of his career in the Utah Credit League

[05:49] How Scott rose to the position of president of the Credit Union.

[08:23] Scott’s movement into his philanthropic work with Children’s Hospital.

[10:57] His next role as chairman of the CUNA credit union and coordinating hurricane disaster recovery.

[12:34] What Scott learned from his role as chairman of CUNA. 

[15:01] Scott reflects on his time in CUNA and AACUL and how they differed.

[18:15] We ask Scott what he thinks the biggest issue is in today’s credit union environment.

[20:23] Where he sees credit unions moving into the future. 

[22:47] Are credit unions moving forward the right way with technology?

[25:10] Continuing with a voice of advocacy within the credit union association.

[28:07] Our affinity for living in the western United States.

[30:24] The highest valuable asset is family.

Episode Links and Resources

Subscribe to our show on Podbean

Connect with us on social media

Tweet with us on Twitter

Contact Chris via email ckemm@mwcua.com

Visit Mountain West Credit Union on the web

Connect with Scott Earl on LinkedIn

In the Movement Podcast

Episode 001

The Movement Podcast - Introduction

Intro:

Welcome to In The Movement Podcast with your show hosts Christopher Kemm and Austin De Bey discuss all things happening in the credit union movement. Each episode will feature leaders talking about history and current affairs and how we can utilize our expertise to educate, communicate, and mobilize to better serve our movement.

Today, we talk about the significance of the number 31. With both Austin and I’s added experience, we have over 31 years of experience in the credit movement working for the trade association we currently work for now.

Backgrounds:

Chris references the eclectic background with serving our country in the Navy for over a decade, then worked in the United States Treasury and was elected as a labor leader at the age of 27. This bore me into a public policy where I found a niche to effect change. From here, I worked at a national labor union, which was one of the biggest labor unions in the US. When I wanted a job change, I found a job as a grassroots advocacy manager, which is where I work today.

Austin studied broadcast journalism in college and decided he wouldn’t be Walter Cronkite, so he chose to go the path into public relations. After college, Austin landed a job with the Phoenix Coyotes and soon after lost his father then his job. He landed a credit union job through his father’s network and absolutely loved his new job. Austin’s mentor and boss, Pat, provided him with day-to-day learning on the job.

Listen in to find out how this industry has evolved in the past 15 years, the three different phases of credit unions we have seen, and our predictions on the next phase of credit union associations.

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Show Notes:

[00:51] Our background of who we are and our experience.

[01:24] The significance of the number 31.

[03:37] We talk about Austin’s background in the credit union scene.

[06:34] Chris talks about the choice to make a career move.

[07:34] Austin gives his background and experience.

[12:20] Many folks who join this movement have usually fallen into their career by accident.

[13:42] How the movement has changed in the past 15 years.

[17:35] When social media first emerged how it was a new way to communicate.

[20:33] What the next phase of how we move forward post-COVID.

[22:34] Why we started this podcast, and what we want to see from it.

[25:14] We talk about the social responsibilities' aspect of the movement.

[29:29] Our job is to raise awareness and to make our members' lives better.

Episode Links and Resources

Subscribe to our show on Podbean

Connect with us on social media

Tweet with us on Twitter

Contact Chris via email ckemm@mwcua.com

Visit Mountain West Credit Union on the web

In The Movement Podcast

Episode 10

What it means to become purpose driven w/Stephanie Teubner, CEO, Blue FCU

Welcome to In The Movement Podcast with your show hosts Christopher Kemm and Austin De Bey discuss all things happening in the credit union movement. Each episode will feature leaders talking about history and current affairs and how we can utilize our expertise to educate, communicate, and mobilize to better serve our movement.

Today, our guest is Stephanie Teubner, who is a leader in the credit union movement. Starting with a small credit union, she worked her way up to her present position of CEO. A Wyoming native, Stephanie left for a while then returned for her job in the credit union.

Guest Bio

Stephanie Teubner is a successful credit union and community leader who dedicates her time and talent to the credit union movement and the community she calls home, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Stephanie has led Blue Federal Credit Union toward tremendous success over the past 18 years. As the biggest financial institution headquartered in Wyoming, Blue is more than $1 billion in assets, serves over 81,000 members worldwide, and has 13 branch locations in Wyoming and Northern Colorado.

Stephanie leads by example and believes in 'doing good. As a civic-minded leader, she serves on various boards, including the Wyoming Children's Society, Laramie County Economic Development Authority, Centennial Lending Board of Managers, and Western CUNA Management School (WCMS) Board of Trustees. Stephanie is a Development Educator with the National Credit Union Foundation and a Certified Executive with the Credit Union Executives Society (CUES).

Receiving local, state, and national certification and recognition are some of Stephanie's many accomplishments. The Mountain West Credit Union Association recognized her as the 2008 Professional of the year, the 2016 Wyoming Women of Influence in Finance award by the Wyoming Business Report, and the 2017 Trailblazer CEO of the Year by the Credit Union Times.

Stephanie holds an Executive MBA and a Bachelor's in Business Management and Finance from the University of Wyoming.

Stephanie enjoys spending time and being active with her two sons, Jack (19) and Josh (14). Their favorite activities are skiing, camping, hiking, scuba diving, and going to the movies. Stephanie is an avid runner. She participates in numerous races throughout the United States.

Expanding to serve members in Colorado

Her credit union realized that they were serving many military men and women who were living in Colorado and driving back and forth to their base. With her merger in 2016, she expanded her territory farther south into Colorado. As a result, her credit union decided to open branches based on the data of where their clients were able to afford to live. 

When members move on to the next level

When military personnel move on from active duty they settle in many parts of the country, expanding the need to find better ways to serve our members and challenging staff to become more efficient operating in different cities and states. 

Listen in to find out how they accommodate employees during COVID, why she wanted to make a difference inside the credit union, and how she became successful in the credit union movement. Learn how she deals with being introverted in her position and how her rural demographic doesn’t allow for large credit unions to be successful in her state.

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Show Notes:

[05:25] Stephanie is a dynamic and thoughtful leader who has received several awards in the credit union circle.

[07:36] She tells us her story and how she rose to where she is in her career today.

[16:14] How Stephanie’s credit union is serving multiple generations of families.

[18:42] Protocols for taking care of her employees during COVID.

[23:00] Moving forward post-COVID seeing employees coming back to work.

[24:57] How she jumped into leadership with the associations.

[29:52] What Stephanie contributes to her success inside the credit union.

[37:36] How she works as an introverted CEO. 

[40:17] Why being in a rural area gives her credit union security.

Episode Links and Resources

Stephanie on Linkedin

Follow Blue FCU on Twitter

Follow Blue FCU on Instagram

Subscribe to our show on Podbean

Connect with us on social media

Tweet with us on Twitter 

Austin on Linkedin

Chris on Linkedin

Contact Chris via email ckemm@mwcua.com 

In The Movement Podcast

Episode 9

Open your eyes to “OPEN YOUR EYES” with Chris Lorence

Welcome to In The Movement Podcast with your show hosts Christopher Kemm and Austin De Bey discuss all things happening in the credit union movement. Each episode will feature leaders talking about history and current affairs and how we can utilize our expertise to educate, communicate, and mobilize to better serve our movement.

Today, our guest host is Patti Hazlett, who is the Director of Public Affairs with MWCUA. She joins Chris and Austin as they interview Chris Lorence with CU Awareness on the show. He has been in financial services his entire life, with his first memories of his mom going through the drive-through at their local bank. He was fortunate enough to land a position as the Executive Director for the first big credit union banking campaign in 2018. 

Guest Bio

Chris began his career in the credit union movement, serving in several capacities at Spectrum Federal Credit Union and FDIC Employees Federal Credit Union. In 2014, Chris was named to the FORBES 50 Influential CMO's in the Social Media list and the Top 100 CMO's on Twitter by Social Media Marketing Magazine.

Chris Lorence is executive director of CU Awareness, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). Lorence leads Credit Union Awareness and the Open Your Eyes to a Credit Union® campaign, a digital-first marketing campaign aiming to raise consumer consideration of credit unions.

Lorence brings more than twenty-five years of marketing, engagement, and growth strategy to Credit Union Awareness. He spent two decades in the financial services association sector, most recently serving as Group Executive Vice President of Engagement & Strategy/Chief Marketing Officer. He developed and deployed digital and social media marketing programs that significantly increased website traffic, market share, and digital advertising revenues in his most recent role.

Putting a New Perspective on “Open Your Eyes” Credit Union Campaign

Chris was excited about this campaign when he first saw the announcement in 2018. He immediately went back to his office to apply for the executive director position and landed the position. Ecstatic about his new job to go to bat for credit unions nationwide, Chris enjoys being the voice to let consumers know more about credit unions and why they should join their local branch.

He comments on the purpose of the campaign, “We aren’t selling a campaign; we are trying to fix a problem.” With credit unions, the best kept financial secret, Chris’s job is to reveal the benefits of using credit unions to consumers nationwide for more consumers to take advantage of the benefits of putting your money into credit unions.

The Purpose of the Credit Union Campaign

“What we are doing, in essence, is reaching up into the stratosphere of consumers and capturing those folks while they are in the market for financial services,” Chris comments that they are leading consumers down the credit union path and answering objections and questions along the way for them to understand that all consumers can join a credit union.

Listen in to find out how Chris plans on reaching new audiences with the campaign, how Chris positions his campaign around authenticity, and how credit unions can utilize their assets for better business. Learn how Chris and his team are progressing through the marketing campaign and how they focus their campaign.

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Show Notes:

[06:05] The first branding campaign for credit unions in 2018.

[11:32] Credit Union “Open Your Eyes” campaign details.

[14:25] The purpose of the campaign for credit unions.

[16:13] How consumer-friendly is your credit union website?

[19:46] Changing the message for better consumer fit and reach.

[23:12] Learning to work together with other credit unions.

[25:55] Launching the new program and stats on the progress of the campaign.

[28:00] Industry ROI tied into the campaign.

[35:07] Using social media marketing to speak to younger generations of new consumers.

Episode Links and Resources

Subscribe to our show on Podbean

Connect with us on social media

Tweet with us on Twitter

Contact Chris via email ckemm@mwcua.com 

Connect with Chris Lorence on LinkedIn

Follow Chris on Twitter

Follow on Twitter  Your money further

Credit Union Awareness

In The Movement Podcast

Episode 8

with Arizona’s State Treasurer Kimberly Yee

Building a solid foundation with fianancial education

Welcome to In The Movement Podcast with your show hosts Christopher Kemm and Austin De Bey discuss all things happening in the credit union movement. Each episode will feature leaders talking about history and current affairs and how we can utilize our expertise to educate, communicate, and mobilize to better serve our movement.

Today, our special guest is State Treasurer, Kimberly Yee who oversees the cash management of Arizona's $40 billion state budget and payments to agencies, local governments, and schools. Upon taking office in January 2019, assets under management were at $15.4 billion. Today, assets under management stand at $21.9 billion, increasing over 42 percent in two years. Treasurer Yee led the effort to pass a state law requiring students to have financial education in high school before graduation and was the first State Treasurer to have visited all 15 counties in Arizona during the first year of her administration.

Guest Bio

Born and raised in Arizona, Treasurer Kimberly Yee is the first Asian American elected to a statewide office in Arizona’s history. She is also the first Chinese American Republican woman to win a major statewide office in the history of the United States. In 2010, she became the first Asian American woman elected to the Arizona Legislature, where she served for eight years in the House and the Senate.

Kimberly served as Senate Republican Majority Leader and became the second woman elected to this position in Arizona’s history, following U.S. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who served the role in 1973, forty-four years earlier.

Before elected office, she worked in the administrations of two governors Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and former State Treasurer Dean Martin.

Kimberly Yee is a graduate of Pepperdine University, where she earned degrees in English and Political Science, and she holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University.

Intentionally Diversifying Law Making

Daughter of a US Army Veteran and Public Teacher, Kimberly grew up living in public service.  After attending college, Treasurer Yee went to work for two California Governors and then worked with State Treasurer Dean Martin in Arizona. She decided to run for office when someone suggested she run for the State Legislature in Arizona. “All of the opportunities allowed for me to be a better elected official.”

She doesn’t run party lines when creating policy; she wants to bring everyone to the table. “You bring everyone to the table, whether you agree with them or not. There are so many important perspectives when you’re making important laws.” She states the importance of bringing great thinking leaders from different perspectives to create a more robust policy and better laws. “It’s really important to have a diverse set of voices when we are making policy.”

Financial Education at the Core of Her Service

“For me, financial education comes from the heart.” Her mother grew up in a family with nine children who shared one bathroom. Her mother intentionally taught in a Title One school district for 38 years because those were the kids who needed caring and education the most. When it comes to financial education, it’s more than just policy to Treasurer Yee as she has a passion to bring families out of poverty and give them success.

“When I look back at my family’s history and what I experienced as a child, it helps me to have that perspective when I’m choosing which laws to promote and what I can do as a legacy piece.” Financial education and literacy are vital to essential financial stability, and those who are poor don’t get that education.

Listen in to find out how Treasurer Yee manages Arizona’s state assets, how she is promoting Arizona’s Education Savings Plan, and tips on educating your kids on financial education.

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Show Highlights

[05:45] Treasurer Yee talks about her background and how she decided to run for state treasurer.

[11:09] The importance of ignoring political party lines when you want to create policy.

[15:33] Why Kimberly is passionate about financial education.

[22:19] How Treasurer Yee manages the state budget for Arizona. 

[27:14] The role of credit unions in the state tax force committee.

[33:28] Details of Arizona’s 529 program.

[37:15] Educating children about financial education.

Episode Links and Resources

Subscribe to our show on Podbean

Connect with us on social media

Tweet with us on Twitter

Contact Chris via email ckemm@mwcua.com 

Visit Kimberly Yee on the web

Find out more about Arizona’s Financial Education Portal

Enroll your children in Arizona’s Education Savings Plan

In The Movement Podcast

Episode 7

Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-7) Behind the scenes look at his journey to Congress and the path to being a key advocate.

Welcome to In The Movement Podcast with your show hosts Christopher Kemm and Austin De Bey discuss all things happening in the credit union movement. Each episode will feature leaders talking about history and current affairs and how we can utilize our expertise to educate, communicate, and mobilize to better serve our movement.

Today, we have a special guest who is a member of Congress in Arizona. United States Representative Reuben Gallego represents Arizona’s 7th District, including parts of Phoenix, Glendale, and Tolleson, in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2014 and is a Marine Corps combat veteran, a lifelong community leader, and the son of Hispanic immigrants. He was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Harvard University.

Guest Bio

Congressman Gallego enlisted in the Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq in 2005 as an infantryman, serving with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. His Company saw some of the worst fighting of the Iraq War, losing 22 Marines and a Navy Corpsman to enemy action in eight months. Following his experience in Iraq, Congressman Gallego committed to ensuring that servicemen and –women are never sent into harm’s way without a plan for winning the fight, securing the peace, and providing post-conflict medical, psychological and familial care.

Representative Gallego has focused mainly on U.S. national security in his time in Washington.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he has led the response to Russia’s attack on NATO, maintaining the European Deterrence Initiative following President Trump’s efforts to cut the vital defense program. He has led the effort to support front-line allies like the Baltic States and protect our forces in Germany and across Europe. He has ensured that U.S. Forces Korea – the front line of our defense against North Korea – remains a credible deterrent force. He has led the response to companies like Huawei and ZTE, criminal state-directed organizations that threaten our national security and our next-generation infrastructure. He believes in retaining the United States’ qualitative military edge and employing U.S. military power only when necessary.

Changing the Landscape of Political Power for Latinos 

“I looked around, and I found that many of the political leaders were weak, and there wasn’t anyone afraid of them and their political clout, and I decided that it was time to step up.” He decided to quit his cushy job to dedicate his time to running his first political campaign to win a congressional seat. He talks about how younger representatives are shaping his party.

He speaks about the young leaders in the party and his future perspective on moving forward inside the party. The way representatives govern has changed since Congressman Reuben has taken office. “How people look at Democrats is starting to change. There’s going to be a new class of democrats coming up that no one has seen on the national scale.”

Being Responsible for His Community

Congressman Reuben gives out his phone number, which drives his staff crazy. “The best way for me to be a chief of staff is to give my phone number to every community leader in my district.” This gave his community leaders access to him when they needed help with community issues and gave him great insights into what is happening in his district. “To this day, those community leaders have my number, and they text me when they have a problem.”

Listen in to find out what real effective advocacy is for Congressman Reuben, why John Lewis inspires Reuben to this day, and what he has learned about himself since becoming a father. Learn why he enjoys being a member of Congress and how he puts family first in his life.

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Show Notes:

[07:11] Congressman Reuben talks about his background including his military experience.

[08:54] Why he decided to join the Marines after attending Harvard.

[14:55] What Congressman Reuben did when he realized the lack of power for Latinos in Arizona.

[19:19] How he connected with his district leaders and stays connected with community leaders.

[22:21] Who inspires the congressman in his lifetime.

[24:35] What he has learned about himself since becoming a father.

Episode Links and Resources

Subscribe to our show on Podbean

Connect with us on social media

Tweet with us on Twitter

Contact Chris via email ckemm@mwcua.com 

Visit Ruben Gallego on the web

In The Movement Podcast

Episode 6

Felicity Guerin - Answering the greater call with philanthropy and advocacy 

Welcome to In The Movement Podcast with your show hosts Christopher Kemm and Austin De Bey discuss all things happening in the credit union movement. Each episode will feature leaders talking about history and current affairs and how we can utilize our expertise to educate, communicate, and mobilize to better serve our movement.

Today, Felicity Guerin is dedicated to the credit union movement family. She was introduced to the credit union as her first career. “Working with Callahan was great because they allowed me to explore my passions within the credit union industry.” Through Callahan, she found Children’s Miracle Network and stayed engaged with them through her career with other credit unions.

Guest Bio

Felicity Guerin’s passion for the credit union movement began with her first “real” job at Callahan & Associates. Currently, Felicity works for the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL). She spent her first eight years at AACUL supporting the “Credit Unions for Kids” program nationally, in a position generously sponsored by CO-OP Financial Services. She is currently managing AACUL’s communications efforts and supporting the Executive Director on special projects.

Coordinating Credit Unions for Kids

Felicity loves to see credit unions coming together and cooperating on behalf of kids across the nation in Credit Unions for Kids. The #1 cause of bankruptcy in America is unforeseen medical costs and programs such as Credit Unions for Kids helps to mitigate this statistic. 

She also coordinates Children’s Miracle Hospital interactions with credit unions across the country and enjoys every minute of her work. “One out of five families use Children’s Miracle Hospital for a member of their family.”

AACUL Brand and Purpose

AACUL lives by four pillars of work advocacy, communicate, collaborate, and influence policy. She works with AACUL to make the process more effective and efficient. “My goal is for credit unions to see the league system as a whole, powerful, thought-leadership enterprise that they can benefit from.”

Listen in to find out what the GAC role is playing inside the credit movement, how AACUL is working with and supporting children’s hospitals, and why this is a good year for credit union advocacy. Learn who the speakers will be at this year’s credit union conference and how Felicity holds conversations with elected officials about promoting credit unions.

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Show Notes:

[03:23] Felicity introduces herself and gives her backstory.

[07:06] Coordinating credit unions for kids on a national scale.

[09:26] How AACUL influences policy for credit unions.  

[20:28] Washington Hilton credit union conference and convention.

[25:10] Why this year is a key year for advocacy.

[29:31] Speakers at this year's conference.

[36:54] The politics of having conversations with elected officials.

Episode Links and Resources

Subscribe to our show on Podbean

Connect with us on social media

Tweet with us on Twitter

Contact Chris via email ckemm@mwcua.com 

Visit Mountain West Credit Union on the web

Children's Miracle Network 

@AACUL on Twitter 

American Association of Credit Union Leagues on LinkedIn